499 

C6 C59 [ERICANIZATION 
""^ ^ )F CLEVELAND 



^^ HE first half year's work of the 
^ J Cleveland Americanization Com- 
^^^ mittee, being done without pre- 
cedents to follow, has of necessity been 
experimental. Having definitely in mind 
the interpretation of America to the 
foreign-born, and equally the interpre- 
tation of foreign culture and character 
to native-born Americans, the problem 
has been to decide upon the methods of 
work which would best produce imme- 
diate and tangible results. 

We have attempted above all things 
to be practical, and have in every case 
secured the advice and experienced 
judgment of workers already in the 
field, among whom the staff of the Cleve- 
la^id- Public Library deserve special 
mention. The Library branches in the 
various foreign districts have more 
points of contact with their neighbor- 
hoods than any other existing agency, 
and the advice and assistance of the 
various branch librarians has been in- 
valuable. 

One of the most important steps in the 
Americanization of the foreign -born is, 
of course, the learning of the English 
language. The Board of Education has 
for years maintained evening schools for 
this purpose, with results excellent so 
far as attained, but touching only a 
fraction of the need. Dr. Frank E.Spauld- 
ing, Superintendent of Schools, at the 
commencement of his term of office in 
September, 1917, announced that it 
would be one of his policies to make the 
public schools just as effective an Amer- 
icanization agency as possible. To this 



^Cics^ 



end he appointed Dr. A. W. Castle 
as Supervisor of Educational Extension 
to have general charge of Americaniza- 
tion matters in the schools. The work 
developed so rapidly that Dr. E. P. 
Wiles was selected to be in immediate 
charge thereof. In cooperation with 
the School authorities in increasing the 
number of these classes, we have at all 
times found the school organization very 
efficient. 

Better preparation of teachers was 
first secured by a Teachers Americani- 
zation Institute held at the Normal 
School in September, under the direc- 
tion of Dr. Castle, and of Prof. R. 
Moley, of the Western Reserve Universi- 
ty, both being members of the Commit- 
tee, Prof. Moley specializing in the 
teaching of citizenship. 

A new citizenship manual by Prof. 
Moley will appear within a few days, 
publication thereof being made by the 
Cleveland Trust Company. This man- 
ual will prove a valuable aid in Ameri- 
canization. 

We became convinced that classes 
must be made more accessible; that the 
foreign-born must not be asked to find a 
class by hunting for it; but on the con- 
trary that he must see a class directly in 
his way, and must be made conscious 
that through it lay his path to Oppor- 
tunity. 

We have therefore made it our busi- 
ness to promote classes in English 
through many agencies; advertising 
broadly that whenever and wherever a 
group of 15 or more can conveniently 
meet, then and there a class will be 
organized and a teacher provided. The 
response to this invitation has been 
quite as good as could be expected in 
this short time, and while materially in- 
creasing the attendance in the public 

n. of, D. 

^^t? ^9.'hm 



evening schools, it has led to the forma- 
tion of classes in libraries, social settle- 
ments, churches, parochial schools, for- 
eign halls, hotels, and factories, with 
others about to form. Some of these 
classes, although financed by the Com- 
mittee, are under Dr. Castle's direction 
and supervision, the teachers being ap- 
pointed by him, so that their work con- 
forms in all respects to the stalidards of 
the Board of Education. Most of them 
are finding, however, that it is best to 
make their work continuous, and to 
disregard the vacation intermissions of 
the public schools. 

Concerning the classes in factories, 
various employers have expressed them- 
selves as follows: — 

Mr. Ernest Joseph, of the Joseph & 
Feiss Company, who has considered this 
problem during the last five years as a 
part of the scientific management of his 
shops says: 

"A few years ago we had a number of 
foreign men and women who could 
speak no English. As a result there were 
constantly recurring misunderstandings 
between workers and their foremen. 
Whenever any change in policy was 
introduced it was impossible to get it 
across to our foreign people. Interpret- 
ers were used frequently with the usual 
results where a third person has to be 
called on. 

"We realized the fact that our labor 
turnover was affected seriously by this 
inability to reach a number of our people 
directly and that workers frequently 
left with antagonism because of slight 
misunderstandings due to a lack of a 
common language. Accordingly we in- 
stalled factory classes which were made 
compulsory and after a few months the 
rule was made that foremen must give 
people a chance to practice English by 



patiently explaining matters in English 
instead of speaking foreign languages. 

"We have been able to secure telling 
results in better cooperation of our 
workers, more intelligent handling of 
work and clearer understanding of 
factory problems such as steadiness of 
attendance. Altogether we can not 
speak too enthusiastically of the actual 
value in dollars and cents of English 
classes in factories." 

Mr. C. J. Abell, General Supt. of the 
Cleveland Provision Company, has or- 
ganized a class in his plant for the fol- 
lowing reasons: 

"Men having gained knowledge of 
the English, can more readily under- 
stand instructions, therefore facilitating 
the work and permitting the foremen to 
accomplish more work in a stated period. 

"Our foreign employees having ob- 
tained a thorough knowledge of the 
English Language, must necessarily 
thereby become imbued with the spirit of 
Americanism and will necessarily there- 
fore be more loyal to our concern." 

A few factory executives contend that 
because of the tense labor situation in 
Cleveland, they are unwilling to ask 
their men to join a class. This argu- 
ment is answered by Mr. E. G. Green, 
of the Ferry Cap & Screw Company, 
who says: 

"In regard to our factory class of 
teaching foreigners English, would say 
that we picked out those with whom we 
had the most trouble and where we had 
a 50% labor turnover, and since start- 
ing the class of about 25 or 30 about 
three months ago, not one has quit." 

Mr. R. H. Seligman of the Federal 
Knitting Mills Company writes the 
following : 

"I can only say that up to this time, 
which means after a period of about six 



weeks, we are pleased at the progress 
made. We succeeded in creating two 
classes, mostly of people who did not 
know any English at all, and were not 
conscious previous to that time of the 
value of the knowledge of our language. 
It is mainly due to the efforts of the 
teacher that it was possible to hold 
the interest of all the people connected 
with the night school. We can state, 
today, that every one of these people, 
without exception, can spell and read 
English, and also that everyone is 
very anxious to increase their knowl- 
edge, and is a booster for the cause. 

"This statement can be proven by the 
following incident : Although our factory 
was closed on Monday last on account of 
the fuel order, a number of people found 
their way to the factory at 5:30 that 
afternoon, in order to attend their 
nightly studies; but no school was held 
on that day. Of course, this is too short 
a time to judge the actual result of 
education on the daily work of these 
people, or the benefit our institution 
would derive from same. Nevertheless 
whichever the case might be, we are 
gratified in the realization that we are 
helping a number of people along in 
making their struggle for existence 
easier, by enabling them to speak our 
language, and to become real American 
citizens." 

The Globe Machine & Stamping Com- 
pany have already derived definite 
results from their classes, which Mr. 
C. L. Walters gives as follows: 

"The direct benefits of the educational 
work are already observable in the 
ability of our employees to understand 
more quickly and more intelligently the 
instructions given to them by our fore- 
men. Their handwriting on time cards 
is more legible, too. Because of these 
classes and the results which have been 



achieved, our foreign born employees 
have increased their industrial efficiency 
and consquently their earning power. 
The economic benefit is, therefore, two- 
fold. Both employer and employee 
profit from the institution of such 
classes in industrial plants. 

"A more important consideration, 
however, is the appreciation that the 
men derive of American ideals, liberty 
and democracy. Becoming familiar, as 
they are, with the language of our 
country the possibilities of a divided 
allegiance are lessened and a true ap- 
preciation of America is established." 

Mr. Hugh Fullerton of the H. Black 
Company writes as follows: 

"I am glad to say that we are im- 
mensely pleased with the result of our 
experiment of teaching English to the 
foreigners in our factory. We have not 
secured as large a number as we should 
have liked to secure. We feel that there 
are a number of men and women in our 
factory who ought to have the advantage 
of this education, but the enthusiastic 
response of those who have attended and 
their interest has fully repaid us for the 
effort we make and their time which 
we lose. 

"In several cases we can see a distinct 
growth in the men and women who have 
attended. They are better employees 
and are going to be better citizens of 
Cleveland." 

Since the receipt of this letter several 
of the H. Black Co., employees have in- 
quired how to become citizens, and in 
consequence a citizenship class has been 
formed for them right in the factory. 

The accessibility, lack of formality, 
and convenience of these factory classes 
has made it possible for many operatives 
to take up the study of English who 
would not otherwise have found time to 



do so, and this accounts in part at least 
for the fact that although Chicago, 
Detroit, Philadelphia and other cities 
have less attendance this year than last, 
Cleveland has an increase of over 800, 
with an average daily attendance of 
fifty per cent, against thirty-three per 
cent in 1915. 

Other activities undertaken by the 
Committee are the Americanization In- 
formation Bureau at the Old Court 
House, which has interpreted the draft 
and other war measures to non-English 
speaking residents of the city, assisting 
over 11,000 to fill out their question- 
naires; three bureaus of information for 
foreign-speaking women, at St. Clair, 
Longwood, and Tremont Schools. The 
object of these Bureaus is to furnish 
a place for the foreign mother to go for 
information as to the facilities available 
to her in the city, and to mediate be- 
tween the mother and the school where 
there has been lack of understanding. 

Citizenship classes for men have been 
maintained as advanced English classes, 
as heretofore, but a new development has 
been in the formation, through the 
Foreign auxiliaries of the Woman's 
Suffrage Party, of citizenship classes for 
women. There can be no doubt that 
the homes from which these women 
come will form an American center, 
which must ultimately grow to include 
their whole neighborhoods. 

The Committee will be glad to assist 
any person or organization to carry out 
plans for the assimilation of all our 
people into a unified country. 

Appreciative notices are appearing in 
various publications throughout the 




[jBRftRY OF CONGRESS 

country, of the 
Americanization 

which has been r iiiiiinimiiii"i«' ■'■"•■"—" -__ j. 

the hearty supp 014 573 bZS o 
Advisory War Committee. 



March 15, 1918. 

CLEVELAND 
AMERICANIZATION COMMITTEE 

OF THE 
MAYOR'S ADVISORY WAR BOARD 

ROOM 226, CITY HALL 

MAIN 6950 CENTRAL 1 



